Experimental status of thrusting by electromagnetic inertia manipulation

• Published in: Acta astronautica 2004-04, Vol.54 (8), p.547-558
• Main Author: Brito, Hector H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/S0094-5765(03)00225-X

It has been shown in previous works that given suitable charge and current distributions, the electromagnetic (EM) field can modify the inertial properties of the generating device if Minkowski's energy–momentum tensor holds for the description of field–matter interactions. The possibility then arises of obtaining mechanical impulses on the device, not undergoing any exchange of mass–energy with the surrounding medium, by EM inertia manipulation (EMIM). The aim of this paper is to present the accumulated experimental evidence about that means of achieving thrust. Three test series performed during the periods 1993–1997 and 1999–2000 on different experimental setups, are reviewed from the viewpoint of an identification of systematic spurious effects. A fourth series of tests recently conducted yields results that can hardly be explained without the EMIM mechanism. However, they are in contradiction with null results predicted by the currently admitted formulation of global EM forces. Further progress along this line of research will likely require improved test and measurement procedures, to get rid of residual spurious effects. Enhanced reliability of the reported results is also expected to arise from independent confirmation by other researchers.